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U.S. health officials say an outbreak of E. coli illness from an unknown source has risen to 96 cases across five Eastern states, up from the 72 cases reported last Friday. The origin of the food-borne illnesses remains unknown, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Friday. “The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections,” the CDC said in a statement. States affected are Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Cases of illness first began to be reported March 2, and the last reported case began on March 26. Although no deaths have been reported, “of 67 people with information available, 11 have been hospitalized” because their cases have been so severe, the CDC said. This outbreak has been linked to the E. coli O103 strain of bacterium, and the CDC says people typically get sick within three to five days of eating E. coli-contaminated food. “Most people get diarrhea [often bloody], severe stomach cramps and vomiting,” the agency said. “Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.” There are ways you can protect yourself, however. Be sure to wash hands while preparing food, and cook meats thoroughly. “To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to… read on >

Have you started feeling like your allergies are acting up earlier every year, or maybe they’re lasting longer? New research suggests it’s not just your imagination — climate change appears to be disrupting nature’s usual calendar. Areas with an earlier spring had a 14% higher rate of seasonal allergies (hay fever), the researchers found. “Climate change is real. It’s impacting our ecosystem now, and that, in turn, is impacting our health,” said study author Amir Sapkota. He’s an associate professor at the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health in College Park, Md. For the study, the investigators used high-resolution satellite data provided by NASA to identify the start of spring throughout the United States. They linked this information to data from a nationally representative sample of Americans collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sapkota said the researchers looked at what happened if spring began earlier or later than normal. “When spring starts early, the burden of allergic disease — or hay fever — goes up. But we also saw high hay fever prevalence when spring was late, too. It’s like mortality with extreme temperatures. Temperatures that are very hot or very cold can kill us. There’s a sweet spot that’s OK,” Sapkota explained. If the season starts early, trees bloom and release pollen earlier than usual and may release pollen for… read on >

(HealthDay News) — The brain and other organs rely on vitamin B12 to function properly. For most adults, the recommended B12 dose is more than 2.4 micrograms, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in a variety of animal products and is especially high in fish like trout, salmon and tuna. Other sources of B12 include chicken, eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk and beef.

(HealthDay News) — More than 12 percent of the world’s population has migraines. For some people, migraines are chronic, says the American Migraine Foundation. Chronic migraines are usually diagnosed when a person has 15 or more of these headache days per month. For those with chronic migraines, treatment typically consists of: Medications for the onset of headaches. Preventive medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy. Addressing risk factors, such as depression and anxiety.

Beef often gets a bad rap, but is it really that bad for you? Here’s the problem: Most cuts of beef tend to be high in the wrong kind of fat. Ironically, though, that saturated fat you see surrounding your favorite cut or those white streaks running through it is exactly what makes beef juicy. But there are tasty ways to get beef’s protein and other nutrients, such as vitamins B3 and B12 and the minerals iron and zinc, without a sat-fat overload. Choose leaner cuts like flank steak, filet mignon and beef stew cubes. Consider grass-fed beef, which tends to be higher in the better-for-you omega-3 fatty acids than the omega-6 fatty acids in grain-fed beef. How you cook beef matters, too. Cooking marbled meat on a rack in the oven or on the grill will allow much of the fat to drain away as it cooks. And watch your portion sizes. Aim for just four ounces of beef per week, or one serving. To fast-cook a lean filet without drying it out, season it with a little salt and pepper, and sear in a small amount of a high smoke-point oil (like safflower) over high heat. Lower the heat to medium and cook for about eight to 10 minutes, turning once or twice. Looking for a tasty way to cook a less expensive… read on >

You enjoy walking and even have an exercise buddy to keep you on track. But maybe your enthusiasm has started to wane. The answer? Expand your workout circle and form a walking group in your community. By planning walks and encouraging one another, each member will have an impact on everyone else’s health. Createthegood.org offers simple steps to get started. First, see if there’s already a community-based organization that might join forces with you or offer ideas, information and resources. Maybe there’s a nonprofit that you’d like to support through a walk six or 12 months from now — check out its website to see if it offers planning pointers for fundraising events. Next, decide how wide a net you want to cast to recruit members. You might keep the group to people you know or extend it to include friends of friends. Hold a kick-off meeting and work out key details like the days and times the group will meet, how long you’ll walk each time and a list of routes that will keep things interesting. Set up a system for contacting one another by text or e-mail so you can send updates and reminders before each walk. If you’d rather join a group than start one, check out Walkwithadoc.org. Started in 2005 by David Sabgir, a cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio, it has chapters… read on >

Regular brushing and flossing can save your teeth into old age. Could it also save your brain? The bacteria involved in gum disease might play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests. DNA from the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis is more often found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, said lead researcher Jan Potempa, a professor at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Kentucky. P. gingivalis is one of the causes of periodontitis, the most serious type of gum disease. “The DNA can be found in the Alzheimer’s brain, but less frequently at a lower level in the brain of people who died at the same age from causes other than Alzheimer’s,” Potempa said. Alzheimer’s-affected brains also contain higher levels of a toxin secreted by P. gingivalis called gingipain, he said. Potempa and his colleagues think the bacteria and its toxins might be connected with Alzheimer’s disease, a suspicion supported by their research involving laboratory mice. Researchers infected the mouths of mice with P. gingivalis and found that the bacteria did spread into the brain. The infection appeared to increase production of amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s, and also caused inflammation in the brain. The researchers also found that a drug targeting gingipain blocked movement of the bacteria into the brains of the mice. The experimental drug,… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Ten infants are known to have died in the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper since 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns. In a joint statement with Fisher-Price, the CPSC said it voted to announce that “the health and safety of the public requires immediate notice” of the danger to babies. All of the infants died after rolling from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained. All 10 infants were aged 3 months or older. Infants typically begin to roll over at 3 months, the CPSC noted. Because of this, the agency says parents and caregivers should stop use of the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper when infants reach 3 months of age or when they begin rolling over. Previously, the agency had warned parents and caregivers to use restraints in infant-inclined sleep products. To provide a safe sleep environment for infants in a crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper, never add blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or other items, and always place infants to sleep on their backs, CPSC said. On its website, Fisher-Price said the company “will continue to work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and other international regulators, to encourage the safe use of our products and find ways to keep your little ones happy, healthy and above all — safe.” More information… read on >

Vitamin D is the healthy “sunshine” vitamin, but it can have a dark side, one Canadian man discovered. A team of Toronto physicians reported on the case of a 54-year-old man who developed kidney damage after taking extremely high doses of vitamin D. It’s a cautionary tale for consumers, medical experts say. “Although vitamin D toxicity is rare owing to a large therapeutic range, its widespread availability in various over-the-counter formulations may pose a substantial risk to uninformed patients,” said study co-author Dr. Bourne Auguste. He’s a clinical fellow in home dialysis at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto. As reported April 8 in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), the man was seen by doctors after he returned from a holiday in Southeast Asia, where he spent much of his time sunbathing. Vitamin D is naturally synthesized by the skin upon contact with sunlight. Testing showed that the man had elevated blood levels of creatinine, a marker for kidney damage or malfunction. The patient was then referred to a kidney specialist and underwent further testing. Doctors learned that the man had been prescribed high doses of vitamin D by a naturopath — even though he did not have vitamin D deficiency and no history of bone loss. Over 30 months, the man had taken eight to 12 drops of vitamin D —… read on >

U.S. health officials say they are investigating an outbreak of E. coli gastrointestinal illness that’s already affected 72 people across five Eastern states. The origin of the foodborne illnesses remains unknown, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Friday. “The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections,” the CDC said in a statement. States affected are Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Cases of illness first began to be reported March 2, and the last reported case occurred March 29. Although no deaths have been reported, “of 47 people with information available, eight have been hospitalized” because their cases have been so severe, the CDC said. This outbreak has been linked to the E. coli O103 strain of bacterium, and the CDC says people typically get sick within three to five days of eating E. coli-contaminated food. “Most people get diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps and vomiting,” the agency said. “Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.” There are ways you can protect yourself, however. Be sure to wash hands while preparing food, and cook meats thoroughly. “To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Still No Source as E. Coli Outbreak Grows to 96 Cases Across 5 States: CDC

Climate Change Could Worsen Sneezin’ Season

Health Tip: Vitamin B12

Health Tip: Managing Chronic Migraines

The Skinny on Beef

How to Start a Walking Group

Gum Disease Shows Possible Links to Alzheimer’s

Ten Infant Deaths Linked to Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play Sleepers

For One Man, Too Much Vitamin D Was Disastrous

CDC Investigates Mystery E. Coli Outbreak Affecting 5 States